DAILY- HOMILY

June 12, 2019 – WEDNESDAY, 10th Week in Ordinary Time
Green.

2 Cor 3: 4 – 11 / Mt 5: 17 – 19

[Independence Day]

FROM THE 1ST READING: 2 Cor 3: 4 – 6
This is how we are sure of God, through Christ. As for us we would not dare consider that something comes from us: our ability comes from God. He has even enabled us to be ministers of a new covenant no longer depending on a written text but on the Spirit. The written text kills, but the Spirit gives life.

GOSPEL READING: Mt 5: 17 – 19
Jesus said to his disciples, "Do not think that I have come to remove the Law and the Prophets. I have not come to remove but to fulfill them. I tell you this: as long as heaven and earth last, not the smallest letter or stroke of the Law will change until all is fulfilled.

"So then, whoever breaks the least important of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be the least in the kingdom of heaven."

REFLECTION
For many of us laws are seen as restricting and preventing us from asserting our freedom. Laws tell us what to do and what not to do, thus confining and restricting us. Often we forget the origin, the spirit and the context in which laws were crafted and written. We easily forget that our leaders and hopefully wise men and women of the past had carefully studied and prepared laws for the good of society and future generations.

Even simple traffic regulations exist not to restrict us but to ensure safety and order for all.

Our short Gospel reading today from the Sermon on the Mount reminds us of the importance of our laws. The laws of God promulgated by Moses    in the Ten Commandments will last as long as humankind lives: love and respect of God and neighbor cannot be changed nor repealed. Jesus had come to fulfill and perfect these laws.

It is good for us to ask ourselves how we observe laws and regulations which govern our lives, be they from civil society or the Church or even smaller voluntary groups we have joined. How do we rate the importance of these laws and regulations in our lives? Do we feel obliged to observe them?

In the Gospel readings we see Jesus respecting the Mosaic Law and at times, seemingly, breaking them for higher reasons. We see Jesus "ignoring" or "violating" the Sabbath to heal the sick and infirm. We see him associating with supposed sinners and dreaded lepers.

Jesus was saddened, even made angry, by the teachers of the Law insisting on the precepts of the Law and at the same time unmindful of the sick and needy.

Today we are asked to see laws as gifts from God, for a better and safer society.  Indeed some laws may not be perfect and may even be unjust.  Our task is to work with these laws and to improve them, so that, helped by the laws, we may have a better and more just society and indeed for God's greater glory.

FINALLY, WE PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ASKED OUR PRAYERS AND FOR THOSE WHO NEED OUR PRAYERS THE MOST.


Have a good day!

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